Group warns US against simplistic view of Thai conflict

January 23, 2014 3:59 pm

A network of medical volunteers has cautioned the US ambassador to Bangkok against a simplistic portrayal of Thailand's ongoing political conflict as an ideological clash between pro-democracy and anti-democracy groups.

In its letter to the ambassador, the Network of Medical Volunteers for National Reform in Thailand dismissed any suggestion that protesters and protest leaders are trying to change the country's democratic system into a non-democratic one.

"They are calling for a strengthening of the democratic system, which, among other things, seeks to give tougher safeguards against corruption and abuse of power by elected officials," the group said in the letter.